Quote Originally Posted by ramAnag View Post
Have they been gleefully mocking? I thought they’d been berating Starmer and it’s been staunchly Labour for 95 years.

Of course Labour should be concerned, but you have to see it in the context of RUK seeing themselves as the next ‘big thing’ when actually the new girl on the block has thrashed them so that they actually won less than 29% of the vote, albeit probably with the help of tactical voting.

I don’t recall ever using the phrase ‘defection by Labour’, but while I personally may welcome a realistic shift to the left, Starmer has to try and balance things in the interest of, eventually, having a broader appeal at the next election.
Starmer's intial response is more that of a "middle management" wonk rather than a leader of a party that has been given an indication by the voters that they don't like his and labours efforts to date. Doesn't bode well for the future of Labour IMO.

What this result does show is that there are more "progressive" voters in the Uk than those attracted to Reform's narrow right wing populism. Though one does of course need to be wary of interpreting too much from one byelection, although the pattern was similar in the Welsh byelection where Plaid Cymru triumphed.